Page 88 of Just Between Us

“Your fake husband? Or at least, that’s how Andy initially explained it to me. Of course, I had my sights set on him and didn’t read the subtext.”

“He told you?” I asked, shocked. “What subtext?”

“That he was in love with you.” She flagged down the bartender for another two glasses. “In hindsight, it was painfully obvious. I’ve been accused of having tunnel vision in the past. But that’s beside the point. Forgive me?”

For the first time, she didn’t look like some untouchable superwoman in a Gucci power suit. She looked like one of my friends, someone who hung out in sweatpants and occasionally got really messy when it came to love. My shoulders slumped a little. I nodded.

“Of course. We should head back over,” I said, gesturing toward the table. I picked up my glass and stopped, turning to face her. “Thanks for apologizing. I appreciate it.”

* * *

I knocked on the door of the single hotel room. Considering Brad had something akin to a penthouse upstairs and the other investors had suites, I didn’t blame Andy for only booking a single room. Still, I wasn’t looking forward to having a much-needed conversation with him and then sleeping in the same room.

“Hey.” He answered the door looking relaxed, his suit jacket off, the top of his shirt unbuttoned, and his sleeves rolled up.

How did he always manage to look so good? In comparison, I looked like a mess. I’d spilled a bite of chocolate torte onto my dress, which went nicely with the wrinkles. My hair had fallen out of the low twist I’d pinned it into sometime after they cleared the entrees.

But Andy didn’t look at me like I’d just hopped off a dump truck. His blue eyes tumbled down my body and back up appreciatively. He moved to wrap an arm around me before stopping himself, standing awkwardly close in the small entryway.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” he said, giving me a terse smile and some space.

“Like I said, it’s part of our arrangement.” I strode into the room, picking my head up and calming my breath, owning the space like Brad, Payton, or even Andy would—turning this discussion into a business meeting. “Would you like to talk?”

Andy raised an eyebrow, cautiously inching closer as I sat on a leather chair, avoiding the couch. “Sure. Do you want something to drink?”

I shook my head. Besides two glasses of wine for confidence, I’d turned down any more drinks. I needed to be clear-headed tonight and I worried alcohol might lower my defenses, sending me tumbling back into the relationship I’d almost had with Andy.

He sat across from me, the coffee table acting as a buffer between us.

“We have to go back to our original agreement,” I said, the words rushing out in a single breath.

He sat back in surprise, frowning. “Haveto?”

I shrugged, his eyes laser-focused on mine becoming too much. I forced myself to look away with a shrug. “Or divorce.”

“I don’t want that,” Andy said quickly.

“Then, I don’t see another choice.”

He pursed his lips and leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees. “What do you want, Nora? Like, best case scenario?”

A lump formed in my throat. “Best case scenario? That’s impossible. I want to deal with realities.”

“No. I don’t want to start with negotiations. I want to start with what you want.” His lips tilted up in an encouraging grin.

“I want to be with you. I love you.” The words slipped out, mangled and broken. I bit my bottom lip from letting any more tumble out after them. I shouldn’t have even said that.

His back straightened and, for the first time that night, he didn’t have a slick reply at the ready. “Good,” he said, voice unsteady, even though that confession was the furthest thing fromgood. “Good. I feel the same way.”

He said the words with a finality, sitting back as if we’d just finished the conversation.

I blew out a frustrated breath. “Great, so we both want the impossible.”

“It’s not impossible, Nora.”

“It’s impossible for me. I told you. I can’t keep lying.”

“What if that wasn’t a barrier?”

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